DALLAS (NCBWA) – Thirty players have been named to the midseason
watch list for the second annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
Stopper of the Year Award, the association announced Wednesday. The award
will be given to the top relief pitcher in Division I college baseball.

Of
the 30 pitchers who make up the midseason watch list, 16 are ranked among
the nation's Top 25 overall relievers with at least eight saves so far this
year, including Don Czyz of Kansas who leads the nation with 13 shutdowns.

Mercer's Andrew Urena has posted 12 saves, while Vinnie Pestano (Cal
State Fullerton) and Ben Hunter (Wake Forest) have each collected 11 saves.
Among those hurlers with 10 shutdowns are Joe Roberts (Toledo), Blair Erickson
(UC Irvine), Josh McLaughlin (College of Charleston) and Link Saunders (The
Citadel). A pair of servicemen appear on the list, with both Milan Dinga
of Army and Ryan Hefner of Navy making the cut.

The 2006 midseason watch list represents 15 conferences, led by four
players from the Atlantic Coast, and three from the Big West, Pac 10, and
Southeastern conferences. The Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Metro Atlantic,
Patriot and Southern each have two players represented, while the Atlantic
Sun, Horizon, Mid American, Missouri Valley, and Western Athletic all have
one player.

"These pitchers have some of the most exciting arms in college baseball,"
said NCBWA President Todd Lamb, Assistant Athletics Communications Director
at The Ohio State University. "We are looking to build upon the success
of last year's award, and continue to generate some recognition for the
nation's outstanding relief pitchers."

Nominations were made by each school's baseball sports information contact.
A mid-season release, including the national saves leaders, will be updated
during the week of April 17. At the end the regular season, the Division
I leader in saves and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected
as the award's finalists. These finalists will be released on Wednesday,
May 31, just prior to the beginning of NCAA regional play.

From the list of finalists, the NCBWA's All-America Committee will select
a winner. The 2nd annual winner will be announced on Wednesday, June 7,
two days prior to the beginning of NCAA super regional action.

2006 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MID-SEASON WATCH LIST

Pitcher

School

Cl.

Hometown

Tyler Addison

Niagara

Sr.

Toccoa, Ga.

Daniel Best

Southern Miss

Sr.

Ruston, La.

Andrew Carignan

North Carolina

So.

Norwich, Conn.

Elliott Cribby

Washington

So.

Redmond, Wash.

Don Czyz

Kansas

Sr.

Overland Park, Kan.

Milan Dinga

Army

Jr.

Tampa, Fla.

Blair Erickson

UC Irvine

Jr.

Fair Oaks, Calif.

Josh Fields

Georgia

So.

Hull, Ga.

Darrell Fisherbaugh

Hawaii

Jr.

Novato, Calif.

Tim Gudex (L)

Iowa

Sr.

Appleton, Wisc.

Kevin Gunderson (L)

Oregon State

Jr.

Portland, Ore.

Ryan Hefner (L)

Navy

Sr.

Creve Couer, Ill.

Ben Hunter

Wake Forest

So.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Brett Jensen

Nebraska

Sr.

Eagle Grove, Iowa

Josh McLaughlin

College of Charleston

Jr.

Wichita, Kan.

Darren O'Day

Florida

Sr.

Jacksonville, Fla.

Chris Perez

Miami, Fla.

Jr.

Holmes Beach, Fla.

Vinnie Pestano

Cal State Fullerton

Jr.

Anaheim Hills, Calif.

Dominic Petracca

Central Florida

Sr.

Sanford, Fla.

Joe Roberts

Toledo

Jr.

Ottawa Lake, Mich.

Rocky Roquet

Cal Poly

Sr.

Cayucos, Calif.

Robert Ryan

Marist

Jr.

Roslindale, Mass.

Link Saunders

The Citadel

Jr.

Irmo, S.C.

Joe Smith

Wright State

Jr.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Damon Sublett

Wichita State

So.

Wichita, Kan.

Luke Tucker

Florida State

Jr.

Niceville, Fla.

Andrew Urena

Mercer

Sr.

Puerto Rico

Garrett White (L)

Mississippi

Jr.

Round Rock, Tex.

Matt Whitmore

Illinois

Sr.

Evansville, Ind.

Zechry Zinicola

Arizona State

Jr.

San Bernardino, Calif.

(L)
indicates left-handed pitcher

The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's
top player. It also selects a Division I All-America Team, Division I and
III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division
III Players of the Year.

For more information on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year, contact Dave Fanucchi at USA
Baseball at 919-474-8721 (Ext. 210) or Russ Anderson at Conference
USA at 214-774-1351.